Peterborough United manager Dave Robertson was thrilled that his side finished their home campaign in League One with an entertaining victory today (April 25).

Posh scored twice in the final four minutes to secure a 4-3 win over relegation-haunted Crawley at the ABAX Stadium. It was a first win in seven matches for Posh and lifted them up three places to ninth in the League One table with just one match, away at Oldham next Sunday (May 3), to go.

But, according to Robertson, it was just as important that Posh played some exciting, cavalier football. This was the first time Posh had scored more than two goals in a game since they won 4-1 at Crawley on October 11.

Robertson’s bold selection of a 16 year-old in Leo Da Silva Lopes and two 18 year-olds in Harry Anderson and Jonathan Edwards (the latter was a second-half substitute) was justified by two goals apiece from top scorer Conor Washington and Michael Bostwick. Washington has now scored four goals in his last three matches,

Robertson said; “I’m a very proud man after that performance and that win. We’ve been working very hard on finding a way to create more chances and score more goals and it paid off for us today.

“We were creative and brave with our selection of a 16 year-old kid, who will go back to working on his GCSEs on Monda,y and by including a couple of other 18 year-olds as well. I was confident they would all be okay as we have an excellent, experienced spine to our team in Michael Bostwick, Ben Alnwick and our natural leader at the back, Gaby Zakuani, who would all help the youngsters.

“And the team stuck together well especially in our attacking plans. These are the exciting games of football that I as a manager, the players and the fans want to see and I am thrilled that we finished the season at home in style. Like it or nort we are in the entertainment business.

“Young Leo did well for his debut. It was a tough match, one of the toughest we’ve had at home because Crawley are fighting for their lives, but he grew into the game.

“We sacrificed some our defensive stability in an attempt to be more threatening going forward. We wanted to be bold and brash and I was very pleased how well we kept going even when things were going against us in the second-half.

“Michael Bostwick has been outstanding in midfield since we took charge. He was originally signed as a goal-scoring midfielder and his goals today were outstanding. The second finish was superb and helped by a very good spot and pass from Michael Smith.

“Michael has been a bit of a superhero in my eyes. He does significant work at both ends of the pitch. When we went 3-2 down we sent Jack Payne on to play as the holding midfielder and pushed Michael further forward because we always fancy he will score a goal.

“And I’ve always been confident that Conor Washington will score goals if he gets the service. That’s four goals in three games now and if he takes this form into next season he could well be that 20-goal player that we need.

“They were the finishes of a striker on top of his game. I would celebrate a 30-yard goal into the top corner with the same excitement as the two controlled finishes he supplied today.”

Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony was quick to tweet his happiness with a return to entertaining football after the match. Robertson has a major meeting planned with MacAnthony soon after the end of the season when the chances of managing Posh next season will be discussed.

Robertson added: “I’m sure the manager’s position will be sorted out in the two weeks after the Oldham game. I will be spending two solid days with the chairman as there is an awful lot we need to get through.

“I want the chance to keep working with these players. I think they have developed in my time in charge and I expect them to continue developing.

“I want the chance to make Conor a 20-goal-a-season striker and I think my staff and the players want the same.

“The club’s philosophy is to bring young and hungry players through the ranks and I pleased to have done that in the last few weeks,”